Principal's Report

Experts at School

Recently, we have been fortunate to welcome visitors to FPS who are experts in their fields. For our mid-term assembly we welcomed Dr Vicki McWilliam, an allergy researcher and member of the NACE Food Allergy Stream Advisory Group who spoke about the importance of being allergy aware. Thank you to everyone for the donations that you made on our Allergy Awareness Day, as we raised $400 for allergy research.

Our Year 4 – 6 students recently listened to a police presentation which had a focus on cyber safety. There were some very powerful messages as the police explained the permanence that exists when posting something online, the importance of informing an adult if you see something online that you are uncomfortable with, and they also discussed how bullying online can be considered a criminal offence and police can become involved. Next Wednesday our Year 1 – Year 3 students will listen to the police present about using the internet safely (adapted to be age appropriate) and Foundation students will learn about how to call 000, the role of emergency services, and get to sit in a police car.

This term Year 3 and 4 students are participating in Performing Arts lessons with a twist – they are working with Olivia and our Performing Artist in Residence in preparation for their puppetry concert 'Wings' next term.

Whilst on the subject of experts in school, during last year’s School Review the school recognised that we could take advantage of the expertise within our parent community. We have such skillsets within our parent group and we will look at ways of inviting parents to share their expertise with the students.

Yard Redevelopment Update

School Council approved expenditure for Stages 1 (Establishment) and 2 (Concept Design) to a total of $5900 for the school yard redevelopment at our last meeting. The school has met with landscape architects about Stages 1 and 2 with a view to a concept design being put forward for School Council approval next term.

Given the overall probable cost of the works, the school is required to submit plans and documents to the Department of Education and the Victorian School Building Authority, seeking their approval for the works to go ahead. 

The image shows the boundary of the area to be developed. We are in the very early stages of this process with many ideas being discussed. We will keep you informed via the newsletter.

Spending of Fundraising Money

The school is paying for the yard redevelopment through fundraising money carried over from events from previous years. We are also allocating some of the funds raised from this year’s fair to pay for the works. The remainder of the fair’s funds are to go towards the Sustainability and Koorie Perspectives work described below.

Funds from the 2022 Art4All are to be distributed three ways:

• Installation of display boards in the Art Studio (this has occurred – see below).
• Development of sustainability initiatives that supplement the area around the yard redevelopment.
• Supporting the school’s ‘Koorie Perspectives Action Plan’, including the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.

We will use funds raised from next term’s Trivia Night (Saturday 12 August) to pay for stage style lighting in our recently refurbished Performing Arts Room.

Funds raised from our two Breakfast Days, 2023 Art4All, and the Mango Fundraiser are still to be allocated.

Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews

Recent years have seen quite a transformation for how Parent Teacher Interviews (PTIs) are organised at the school. Pre-COVID all PTIS were in-person, with COVID then necessitating the need to move to online interviews.

I regularly seek feedback from parents and staff about our PTI format; many explain they prefer the convenience of meeting online – the ability to meet while at work/travelling, generally fitting into people’s day easier. On the other side there are parents who have expressed they enjoy the opportunity to see the teacher in-person as well as visiting the classroom; the ‘Open Afternoon’ early in the year was planned with this in mind.

Another factor that requires consideration is the long and intense day that PTIs create for staff – teaching in the morning and then conducting PTIs until 7pm would put a lot of demand on anyone.

Taking all of the above into consideration we will try a new approach with next term’s PTIs. They will run across three afternoons and allow for parents to attend in-person or online.

PTI Dates (Term 3, Week 2)

• Tuesday 18th July: 3:45 – 4:45pm (in-person interviews)
• Wednesday 19th July: 3:45 – 4:45pm (in-person interviews)
• Thursday 20th July: 1:45 – 4:45pm (online interviews). Early dismissal at 1pm on this day (OSHClub will be available).

Keep a lookout in Compass for more information about the interviews. Bookings for PTIs will open in Compass on Thursday 15 June at 12pm.

School Tours

We have run four of our tours for the families of prospective 2024 Foundation students. It is always a delight to take visitors around the school and they can’t help but be impressed by what they see and hear when they visit classrooms. 

Our seven tours are booked out, therefore we are running an additional tour next term on Tuesday 18 July, at 9:30am. Please let any families considering enrolling their child at FPS next year about this new date. 

Enrolment forms are due to the school on Friday 28 July 2023.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

~ Paul Wallace, Principal